Hen&#39;s nest.



. T. BLACKEBBY;

HENS mast. (Appliciation filed se y. 6, 1899A (No Modem W X W a '1! 1 a v MI 77 Patented June 5, I900.

PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS BLACKERBY, OF HERRICK, ILLINOIS.

HENS NEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,290, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed September 8, 1899. Serial No. 729,873. (No model.)

One object of the present invention is to.

improve the construction of hens nests and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one having an automatically closing door adapted to close and open when a fowl enters and leaves the nest.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character adapted to be readily cleaned and capable of being arranged to form a shelter for a hen and her brood.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of a hens nest constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View, the nest being inverted to form a shelter for a hen and her brood. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the pivoted door. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating the construction of the upper e11 of the legs.

Like numerals of reference designate corre sponding parts in all the figures of the drawlugs.

1 designates a frame or casing composed of upper and lower portions 2 and 3 and adapted to be inverted for a purpose hereinafter described. The lower section is composed of sides 4, a back 5, and a cross-piece 5, and it is supportedby legs 6 and ,7, which project above the .upper edges of the sides of the lower portion to support the upper section 2 and prevent the same from slipping off the upper edges of the lower section. The cr sspiece 5 forms a partial platform and is interposed between a nest-box 8 and a pivoted door 9, which is automatically swung upward and closed by the weight of a fowl when the same is on the nest-box. The nest-box,which is arranged in the space between the platform and the back 5, is provided at its rear edge with eyes 10 for the reception of a removable pintle-rod 11. The nest-box is provided with forwardly-extending arms 12, arranged beneath the platform and connected with the inner or lower end of the upwardly-swinging door, which is pivoted at opposite sides of the lower section of the frame or casing at 13. The arms preferably consist of extensions of the sides of the nest-box, and they are provided with flexible connections '14, such as short cords, which are adapted to be secured to fastening devices 15 and 16, such as pins or screws. The pivot of the upwardly-swinging door is located at a point near the inner or lower ends thereof, and the fasteningdevices l5 and 16 are located at different points from the pivot, and by arranging the devices at different distances the leverage may be varied to suit the weight of a fowl. The door is supported in a horizontal position by a transverse bar 17, and when open it combines with the platform to form a walk to the nestbox. As soon as a fowl steps from the platform to the nest-box the door closes slowly, and as soon as it leaves the nest-box the door opens gently. When a fowl is on the nest, the door remains closed and it cannot be disturbed.

The upper section 2, which is composed of sides, a top, and a back, is open at the front, and it is arranged within the projecting upper portions of the legs, which are beveled at their inner faces and which are located at the outer faces of the sides of the upper section. In order to prevent the upper section from moving longitudinally of the lower section, it is provided at its back with depending projections 18, spaced apart to receive the back of the lower section. By this construction the upper section is detachably interlocked with the lower section and the parts may be readily separated to afford access to the interior of the nest for the purpose of cleaning the same.

When the device is inverted, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of theaccompanying drawings,itis adapted to form a shelter for a hen and her brood, and the door may be supported at an inclination by a pivoted button 19, recessed at 20, to form a supporting-shoulder and adapted to engage a recessed portion 21 of the pivoted door. The door may be supported upon the shoulder formed by the recess 20 or by the outer end of the button and may be set at diiferent inclinations to suit the size of the chickens.

It will be seen that the nest is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction,

that it is positive, reliable, and automatic in operation, and that it is capable of adjustment to vary the leverage of the pivoted door. It will also be apparent that it afiords'a complete protection for a fowl and that it may be readily arranged to provide a shelter for a hen and a brood.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this inventioin What is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing adapted to be inverted and composed of upper and lower sections detachably interlocked, a pivoted door mounted on the lower section of the casing and arranged to swing upward, a nest-box hinged to the casing and connected with the door, and a device mounted on the upper section of the casing and arranged to support the door at an inclination to hold the sam 0 partially open when the casing is inverted, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing adapted to be inverted, a pivoted door mounted on the lower portion of the easing and adapted to swing upward, a nest-box hinged to the casing and connected with the door, and a device mounted on the upper portion of the casing and arranged to support the door at an inclination to hold the same partially open when the said casing is inverted, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing composed of upper and lower detachably interlocked sections and adapted to be inverted, a nest-box hinged to the lower section of the casing, an upwardly-swinging door mounted on the lower section of the easing and connected to the nest-box, and a pivoted button mounted on the upper section of the casing and provided with a shoulder and adapted to support the door at different inclinations when the casing is inverted, sub stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BLAOKERBY.

Witnesses:

D. J. ADAMS, H. (l. GARATT. 

